Li-ion charger

[Graham_Wright]

I have a Lidl (Parkside) cordless drill which has been a very good tool.

I cooked it drilling a 2" hole through the deck and it wouldn't recharge.

I bought a replacement battery (£17) but that will not accept a charge. Conclusion is charger is defective. (It had been replaced under warranty).

Pulling it apart, I find a pile of electronics. It seems a simple task to replace the charge in a battery or am I missing something?

Connected straight across 12v, they draw around 1.8A. Replaced in the drill the full power light illuminates.

What is to stop me just charging from 12v?

 

[RobbieW]

I have a Lidl (Parkside) cordless drill which has been a very good tool.

I cooked it drilling a 2" hole through the deck and it wouldn't recharge.

I bought a replacement battery (£17) but that will not accept a charge. Conclusion is charger is defective. (It had been replaced under warranty).

Pulling it apart, I find a pile of electronics. It seems a simple task to replace the charge in a battery or am I missing something?

Connected straight across 12v, they draw around 1.8A. Replaced in the drill the full power light illuminates.

What is to stop me just charging from 12v?

The considerable risk of the battery catching fire ?

Edit: Heres a little more detail ... http://www.instructables.com/id/Li-ion-battery-charging/

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have a Lidl (Parkside) cordless drill which has been a very good tool.

I cooked it drilling a 2" hole through the deck and it wouldn't recharge.

I bought a replacement battery (£17) but that will not accept a charge. Conclusion is charger is defective. (It had been replaced under warranty).

Pulling it apart, I find a pile of electronics. It seems a simple task to replace the charge in a battery or am I missing something?

Connected straight across 12v, they draw around 1.8A. Replaced in the drill the full power light illuminates.

What is to stop me just charging from 12v?

Here is a Li-ion charger board you can get from E-Bay for 12v

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3S-10A-12V-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[oldharry]

The electronics regulate the charge rate, and balance it to the level of charge in the battery. This is what happens if you just put 12v across it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsAymO7Y9lU

 

[William_H]

Here is a Li-ion charger board you can get from E-Bay for 12v

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3S-10A-12V-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

The detail on that lithium ion charger board does say that not suitable for portable drills. The board contains circuitry to charge the lithium cells and in so doing check the balance of the cells. Charge cuts off when total voltage and individual cells reaches about 4.2v. The board also cuts off the output when then cell voltage individual and totals goes down to around 3 volts. It also contains short circuit protection however the max discharge current seems to be 10 amps. This might be too low for your drill at start up or heavy load. Hence I think they say not suitable for drill. You could however give it a try. Mean while it may be your electronics in the drill that have died. good luck ollewill

 

[rogerthebodger]

The detail on that lithium ion charger board does say that not suitable for portable drills. The board contains circuitry to charge the lithium cells and in so doing check the balance of the cells. Charge cuts off when total voltage and individual cells reaches about 4.2v. The board also cuts off the output when then cell voltage individual and totals goes down to around 3 volts. It also contains short circuit protection however the max discharge current seems to be 10 amps. This might be too low for your drill at start up or heavy load. Hence I think they say not suitable for drill. You could however give it a try. Mean while it may be your electronics in the drill that have died. good luck ollewill

There are higher power boards available that may be suitable for battery drills

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3S-30A-Poly...040117?hash=item2119ef64f5:g:-kkAAOSwBt5ZHVE7

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3S-60A-12V-...159757?hash=item33aedea84d:g:7tcAAOSwk1JWfFjO

 

[Graham_Wright]

I am intrigued as to how individual cells are checked. There are three connectors on the battery but only two on the charger. The battery voltage fully charged is 12.6 so I cannot see how it is not intrinsically self limiting sourced from a 12v battery. It is easy enough to limit the current input. I assume the explosion rick is preceded by heating.

The battery itself has a bunch of electronics built in which I guess is for overload protection. It certainly didn't protect against temperature.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Mean while it may be your electronics in the drill that have died. good luck ollewill

With the (dangerously?) charged batteries, both original and replacement, the drill seems to be as powerful as before. The charger, however, has now regressed to emitting a feeble intermittent blink with no battery inserted.

I wonder if chargers replaced under warranty come with a replacement warranty!?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Good outcome.

Having explained the problem to the spares supplier, kompernass, they have offered a free replacement charger.

Good service.